The annual 9/11 anniversary remembrance ceremony in Taunton was faithfully held amid stifling heat on Wednesday afternoon, featuring a tribute to the Silver City native who was killed during the terrorist attacks 12 years ago.

The annual 9/11 anniversary remembrance ceremony in Taunton was faithfully held amid stifling heat on Wednesday afternoon, featuring a tribute to the Silver City native who was killed during the terrorist attacks 12 years ago.

The anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks is observed at the event organized each year at the John Shea Court apartments by Taunton resident Irene Fernandes, featuring speeches by local elected officials, poem recitations and the reading of impassioned quotes about the country’s patriotic response to the terror attacks.

The family of Taunton’s Peter A. Gay, a 54-year-old Raytheon plant manager who died on 9/11 aboard American Airlines Flight 11, attended the event. Children from the family laid down flowers on an engraved 9/11 memorial in the middle of the courtyard there, while Peter’s brother David Gay made comments thanking everyone for remembering.

“It’s really mixed emotions on this particular day of the year,” said David Gay, a Taunton-based attorney. “We enjoy coming to this event and appreciate the fact that we will not forget.”

David Gay spoke about the positive change that came in the wake of 9/11, including the recognition of firefighters, police and other emergency responders who put their lives on the line. David Gay said when he was working in the military it wasn’t popular to wear the uniform at public events, but that military service is now celebrated.

“It’s a difficult day, but a great day in remembering the good things that resulted,” said Gay, who added that the 9/11 memorial at John Shea Court is a “treasure” in the city that is maintained very well.

Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. presented David Gay a flag with the image of his late brother Peter’s face on it.

Hoye, David Gay and many other speakers also thanked Fernandes for her efforts organizing the event each year. Fernandes made introductory remarks at the ceremony, but had to leave after the unusually hot September weather got the best of her.

“I’d like to thank all of you for attending our special tribute for all those who lost their lives on this day,” Fernandes said at the beginning of the event.

Fernandes also made sure to ask for everyone to remember Neilie Casey, who was married to Taunton native Michael Casey.

“I’d like to thank Irene for all her efforts,” Hoye said, before speaking about the “selfless acts” that characterized many Americans in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

“We’ll never know what would lead someone to do such horrific acts on people and our country,” Hoye said. “What I do know how resilient this country, this city, this state, this nation was after those horrific acts.”

Taunton Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw said in a brief interview that 9/11 is a day that will forever go down in history and it will be always be remember by the firefighting community.

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“It’s a very important day to everybody, especially to the fire service, with the brothers in New York because of what they faced, the ones that were lost and how they performed in extreme circumstances that day,” Bradshaw said.

Also during the event, state Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, state Rep. Shaunna O’Connell and City Council President John McCaul made speeches about the response to 9/11 and its meaning.